What it Takes (34 page)

“So, let’s go in and get this sorted out, shall we?” Nathan asked, holding the door open for the two women as Kelsey took some of the groceries from Janelle.

Nathan had a quick word with Patrick before he joined Kelsey and Janelle in the kitchen. As Janelle put the groceries away, Kelsey explained everything that had happened that afternoon. When Nathan asked whether anything like that had happened before, Kelsey told him about the incident at Thanksgiving and, reluctantly, about the episode in her trailer in Knoxville.

Janelle frowned at that new information.

“Do you want a restraining order?” Nathan asked Kelsey.

She looked at Janelle and read the conflict in her sister’s eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, Janelle nodded slightly. Kelsey turned back to Nathan. “Yes, we do.”

“Okay, sounds good,” he said then went to the office to talk to Patrick.

Janelle watched as Kelsey continued to put groceries away. “Why didn’t you tell me about Knoxville?” she asked.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Kelsey replied and was saddened by the pout on her sister’s face. “I’m sorry,” Kelsey added meekly. Janelle nodded and opened her mouth to say something.

“Jan, I need you in the office.”

They turned and saw Nathan and Patrick standing by a column. Zoe was already playing in the living room as Janelle went to the office and Patrick joined Kelsey.

“What’s going on?” Kelsey asked, her heart thumping with worry.

“He wants to talk to Zach,” Patrick answered uncomfortably.

Kelsey froze. “Why?”

Patrick held his arms out by his sides. “Zach was the first to see Richard on the porch with you, but I don’t know how much he actually saw happen.”

She shook her head and put her hand over her stomach as it dropped to the floor. “No,” she mouthed and he nodded. She frowned at him. “How could you be so careless?” she hissed.

“Careless?” he snapped. “I didn’t know he was out there with you.”

“Then you should’ve been paying attention!” Kelsey saw in his face how irrational she was behaving, then bowed her head and slumped against the counter. Patrick slowly approached and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” she muttered against his chest as she leaned into Patrick’s embrace. “I shouldn’t take it out on you.” He kissed the top of her head and she exhaled. Despite everything that had happened that day, as they listened to Zoe play with her Little People, Kelsey felt safe in his arms.

Nathan stepped out of the office. “Okay, Patrick, I’m ready for you. I think we’ll talk in the dining room.” Patrick followed him and Kelsey finished putting groceries away before going to play with Zoe.

When Nathan and Patrick had finished their conversation, Nathan took some pictures of Kelsey’s bruise. He talked to Janelle and Kelsey about what would happen next. When Janelle and Kelsey felt confident that they knew what to expect, Nathan said his good-byes to the kids and Janelle walked with him out to the porch.

Patrick sat on the floor with the kids but kept an eye on Kelsey. She was sitting at the island, staring at the door with a far-off look in her eyes. She was frozen, not moving, barely blinking. He had to watch closely to make sure her chest still rose and fell.

Thirty minutes later, still in a trance-like state, Kelsey rose the moment the front door opened. Janelle joined her in the kitchen and they prepared dinner in complete silence. The somber mood carried over to the meal. Zoe was pretty much unaffected by what had happened, but it was painful for Patrick to watch Kelsey and Janelle trying to engage Zach, who seemed distant. Patrick tried to help too but without success.

After dinner, they retreated to the living room and watched a couple of animated Christmas movies. Zach sat in an armchair with Janelle and Zoe was between Kelsey and Patrick on the couch. When the movies ended, Janelle took the kids upstairs to bed and Kelsey and Patrick cleaned up the dinner mess. She didn’t say anything and he didn’t push her.

When they were done, they went upstairs to tell Zach and Zoe goodnight. Kelsey went to Zach’s room first while Patrick went to Zoe’s. As they traded places, passing each other in the hall, he lightly brushed her hand but she didn’t seem to notice.

“Hey, buddy,” Patrick said as he kneeled on the floor next to Zach’s bed. “Want to talk?” Zach looked up at him and shook his head. “Okay.”

Patrick felt an ache in his chest for this child. When Nathan arrived to take Richard away, Zach had told him about Richard being sent to jail just before Janelle and the kids had moved in with Kelsey. From those recollections and the fear in Zach’s eyes, he knew Zach had been through a lot at the hands of his father. How could anyone put their child through such pain?

He pulled the sheets up to Zach’s chin.

“Why’d he hurt Aunt Kelsey?” Zach asked softly.

Patrick’s eyes widened slightly. He wasn’t sure what to say. Did Zach know his father was an alcoholic?

“Is it because he drinks?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. Sometimes when people drink too much, their behavior changes and they do things they wouldn’t normally do.” Patrick could feel the anger bubbling up again but tried to control it for Zach’s sake.

“Does that make him a bad person?”

“Zach, I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know your dad too well, so I can’t say whether it does or not,” Patrick said honestly and hoped he wasn’t crossing a line.

“Since he’s my dad, does that make me a bad person?”

Patrick exhaled slowly. “Oh, Zach.” He shook his head and ran his hand across Zach’s forehead. “No. You’re a different person from your father. He’s a part of you but so is your mom, and she’s not a bad person, is she?” Zach shook his head. “You get to decide how you want to act. You know what I think?” He shook his head again as he yawned and Patrick smiled. “I think you’re a wonderful person and one of the best little boys I’ve ever met.”

Zach grinned a little and his blinks became longer. “Will Aunt Kelsey be okay?” he asked.

“She’ll be just fine,” Patrick said confidently. “I’ll make sure of it.” Zach yawned again and closed his eyes. “Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“Okay,” he said slowly as Patrick ruffled his hair and stood. Zach rolled toward the wall as Patrick left the room.

Patrick slowly walked down the steps and found Kelsey sitting on the couch, her feet on the coffee table and her arms folded across her bent knees. He sat beside her and put his arm on the couch behind her. She uncrossed her arms and leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. He turned his head and filled his senses with her scent as he moved his hand to her side and silently repeated his promise to Zach. He’d do everything he could to make sure Kelsey never suffered because of Richard again.

Twenty

F
rom the top of the steps, Kelsey could hear sounds coming from the television in the living room. She descended quietly until she could see into the room. Patrick was sitting on the floor between the couch and the coffee table, his hair still a little mussed from sleep, wearing a loose, blue t-shirt and a pair of black and blue pajama pants. Next to him sat Zach, still in his pajamas, hair equally untamed. They were eating a bowl of cereal and watching Zach’s new favorite cartoon. Kelsey sat on the bottom step, smiling as she watched them eating almost in unison.

“So, which one is Phineas?” Patrick asked, pointing to the TV with his spoon.

“The one with the pointy head,” Zach answered.

“And they’re brothers?” Patrick questioned.

Zach sighed heavily and Kelsey pressed her lips together in amusement. “No, they’re step-brothers.”

Patrick nodded and they watched for another minute or two, laughing occasionally, but otherwise silent.

“So, they do this every day? Where do they get all the parts for these things?” Patrick asked. Kelsey peeked at the television to see which episode it was.

“They order them,” Zach stated, sounding annoyed.

“But they’re kids. How do they pay for it?” Patrick asked and Kelsey tried not to laugh. She knew what Zach was going to say.

“Money.”

A giggle escaped and Patrick turned to look at her. He beamed brightly as she stood and approached the couch. She leaned over it and whispered, “He doesn’t like talking when he’s watching TV.” Patrick mouthed an apology and turned around. Kelsey looked at the bowls on the coffee table. Patrick’s was almost empty, but Zach’s was half full of soggy, brown slop.

“What’re you eating?”

“Breakfast,” Zach replied, glancing at her briefly.

“I know that, but what is it?” Kelsey looked at Patrick.

“Frosted flakes.” He grinned as she raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.

She examined the bowl again. Something didn’t look right. “What did you put on them?” she asked as she slowly stood.

“Chocolate milk,” Zach answered, putting another spoonful into his mouth.

Kelsey’s lip curled in disgust and her stomach lurched as Patrick drank the last of his milk and stood. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him as he walked around the couch. He stopped in front of her, smiling mischievously, then kissed her temple and continued his walk to the kitchen.

“Good morning,” he said as she followed him.

“Frosted flakes and chocolate milk?” she asked. “What’re you thinking? He’ll be bouncing off the walls.”

“Good morning,” Patrick repeated, putting his bowl and spoon in the sink then facing her again.

“Patrick.”

He smirked, waiting patiently. She was starting to like seeing that smile first thing in the morning.

“Good morning,” she said quietly, and he turned to the cabinet, retrieved a bowl, and set it on the island. “Don’t think you’re off the hook. You shouldn’t give a child that much sugar first thing in the morning.”

“Is that another kid rule?” He held up the box of Frosted Flakes.

She shook her head and he put it down. “No, that’s a parent rule.” She stepped up to the bowl.

He picked up a box of Cheerios and brought it to her. “Oh.” He walked to the fridge and got out the skim milk. They hadn’t eaten breakfast together too often while filming, so she was amazed by how much he’d learned about her in such a short time. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a parent, huh?” He placed the milk in front of her and chuckled.

Kelsey poured her cereal and milk into a bowl and Patrick put them both away as she sat on a stool. “What’re you doing up this early with Zach?”

“I heard him getting up so I thought I’d get up with him.” He answered as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Kelsey froze with the spoonful of cereal almost touching her lips. “Patrick, you’re our guest. You shouldn’t have to get up with the kids.”

“I didn’t have to. I wanted to,” he corrected her.

She swallowed and looked at him, curious and pleasantly surprised. “Why would you do that?”

He reached across the island and grabbed her hand. “I thought you and Janelle could sleep in. You had a rough day yesterday.” He lightly kissed her knuckle. “I actually enjoyed it. I haven’t watched cartoons in forever.” Still holding her hand, he looked into the living room.

She put another spoonful of cereal in her mouth and chewed slowly, focused on the fond expression on his face. Her stomach fluttered and she was pretty sure it wasn’t from hunger.